HOUGHTON, NY – Kobe Bogart and Christian Sage combined to score 33 second half points as the Cazenovia Wildcats pulled away from the Houghton Highlanders down the stretch to win Tuesday night's non-conference matchup, 88-74.
 
After Esafe Taufahema completed a three-point play to tie the game, 59-59, midway through the second half, the Wildcats reeled off six straight points and gradually lengthened their lead to double-digits in the waning minutes.
 
Cazenovia shot 61.5 percent from the floor in the second half, including 4-for-9 from beyond the arc and a perfect 12-for-12 from the line.  The Wildcats also only gave the ball away only five times over the final 20 minutes.
 
Houghton hit 59 percent of their shots in the second half, but did not convert a three, and shot only 7-of-16 (44 percent) from the line.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 74 | Cazenovia – 88 
Records: Houghton: 2-10 (1-4 Empire 8) | Cazenovia: 9-5 (4-1 NAC)
Venue: Dix Family Court, The Nielsen Center, Houghton University | Attendance: 132

NOTABLE STATS
>> Taufahema scored 28 points—his second-highest total of the season—on 12-of-18 shooting from the floor, adding four rebounds and three steals.
 
>> Jajuan Preaster 18 points, six rebounds and three assists for the Highlanders, while David Rosa chipped in 11 points and four assists.
 
>> Bogart finished with 25 total points for the Wildcats, shooting a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe, while also pulling down seven boards.  Sage posted 18 total points (15 in the second half), also going a perfect 4-for-4 from the line, while dishing out eight assists.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"We're still lacking consistency. We did so well executing offensively by getting into the paint, but we didn't bring the defensive attentiveness we had against Alfred and Nazareth.
 
"I still believe we are going to have a really fun team to watch by the end of the season. We're just not there yet.
 
"If I am going to talk about Esafe and Juan, and I should, I have to talk about the guys who made a concerted effort to run our stuff and get them the ball. Then, how about those two finding their spots and finishing? They're tough." – Head Coach Jeremy Bialek
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders will travel to Oneonta this Friday to resume conference play against the Hartwick Hawks at 7:30 p.m.